How do I get my child into acting or modeling?
Children are typically very dramatic. It starts with their temper tantrums over the most ridiculous things. Followed by NO over basically anything you talk to them about and continues into elementary school as they develop their hand eye coordination, self help skills, and emotional development.
As parents we always think our kid is the most beautiful creature on the planet and take 5,000 pics of them every year as if they're a catalogue model. Now with such a heavy emphasis on aesthetic in the social media world, we even stage photo sets as if it's an editorial shoot or marketing campaign in our best beiges and blush colors. Then when we get compliments on how beautiful our children are, coupled with "THEY SHOULD BE MODELS!" we start to think and see a bright future ahead with lots of Photo Ops, Marketing Campaign, Fame and Dollar signs.
LET ME STOP YOU RIGHT THERE. NO. Just because your kid is cute, doesn’t mean they're an instant actor. They also have to be really well at following direction from adults that are not their parents.
REALITY CHECK. The probability of your child being the right fit for the acting world is pretty slim, regardless of how pretty or cute they are.
HEADSHOTS
Annie who is the owner and Director of AND Casting in New York; has some great advice to set you up for success without wasting your time or anyone else’s. Together we worked on this thorough list of do's and don'ts in THE BIZ. Even though this post is targeting helping you navigate the acting world for children, a lot of these same instructions apply for adults as well.
She says, Professional headshots are not necessary for children they grow and change so fast. Sending a current snapshot of your child is better than an old headshot.
Another thing your child should do is practice in front of the camera because you don’t want them to be on set for the first time and see a camera crew before that. Practice them introducing themselves, and slating by stating their name, ages and other information about themselves.
"We’re not looking for glitz and glam, we’re looking for kids that are natural and can follow direction."
AUDITION TIPS
What are some things that should or should not be done?
Practice your audition alone and in front of other people.
Wear appropriate clothing in your audition photo and role submission.
Answer all questions in your submission and stay on task.
If you’re submitting a self tape, make sure your well lit, with no distractions in the background.
Make sure your sound is clear, with no background noise or distortion.
SET ETIQUETTE
Don’t force your kid to do anything. It never makes for good acting or vibes on set. If your kid doesn’t want to do it, that’s it we can not coerce them. Stage moms not appreciated. You are there as their guardian, and not there to direct them, belittle them, or make them feel like a failure. Let the Director direct and if they need your help they’ll ask. Overbearing stage moms hold up productions, costing them more time and lots of money and are not likely to get called back.
Don’t expect there to always be food on set, especially with picky eaters or those with food allergies. Please come to set already having eaten, and ready to go. Also, Make sure they’re well rested.
Come to set looking like the photo you submitted, because you are hired for what your photo looks like. Do not make any drastic changes to your look. No hair cuts, coloring, spray tans, new visible tattoos, etc.
Don’t expect there to always be food on set, especially with picky eaters or those with food allergies. Please come to set already having eaten, and ready to go. Also, Make sure they’re well rested.
Bring what you say you’re going to bring. Be prepared, make notes she lists. Whatever you say you’re going g to bring, bring it. Get into the habit of bringing multiple solid color classic pieces like, white, grey, denim, navy, green and black T-shirts, shorts and pants. A few shoe and sneaker options… undergarments that don’t show through your clothing and Without logos or crazy patterns.
Be patient, don’t be annoying or impulsive.
Don’t make noise on set. Wear quiet clothing, shoes and jewelry.
Don’t take it upon yourself to do crew members jobs and especially don’t take it upon yourself to go into their kits nd use their tools without permission or explicit instruction to do so. I can’t tell you how many times people have helped themselves to my kit to do something impulsively that went against the direction of a Producer or Art Director.
Along those lines, Don’t change what your stylist has done, this is not your personal headshot shoot. This is a job you were hired for as a model or actor and the look has already been planned for with the client, directors, producers and stylists. Not to mention if you change it after scenes have been shot, it ruins continuity and that footage can no longer be used. OR it has to be reshot and you risk the production going over budget.
Don’t post pictures or videos online before the project launches without written permission.
My other Casting Director friend, Carolyn Cocca also had some really sound advice to share. Here’s what she had to say…
“Tips For Parents - Casting Process for Projects Requiring Children
As a Casting Director, clients request unique requirements for each project. If your child is interested in one of my particular project posting, one requirement is usually photos whether they have experience or just starting out in the business. Sometimes professional photos are requested, however, if not, your own photos may be accepted as long as they are taken correctly.
Here are some tips for photo submissions for my review:
Take several photos to see your child's face clearly
Pictures need to reflect your child as they look "today"
No sunglasses, hats, etc., that obstruct their face
Take some photos of them smiling and some serious
If they wear required eyeglasses, include pictures with and without them
Be sure they are dressed in appropriate, clean and neat outfits
Their wardrobe should be pertaining to project scene (school clothing, etc.)
Waist up and full-length pictures are best
Choose a plain, simple background (nothing busy that distracts)
Make sure there is good lighting
The camera angle must have them looking straight into the camera
Once I review them, their photos will be submitted to my clients for their review and final casting decisions are made. After submitting them, your child's "look" cannot be changed or anything physically added to, such as hair length, hair color, hair extensions, braces, tattoos, facial jewelry, etc. Clients are making casting decisions based on photo submissions. If a child's "look" is altered before arriving on set looking different from their photos submitted, there is a risk of them being replaced with other children that submitted for the same project. “
For further casting tips, you may contact Carolyn for a consultation.
Carolyn Cocca, Casting Director - New York State & Beyond
NEW YORK CHILD ACTOR LAWS
Did you know that all kids who work in New York state have to have a child acting permit? And It’s not the same as working papers. You can apply for a 15 day or 12 month permit, but in order to do so there’s a laundry list of tasks you need to do first.
In New York on the Dept or Labor site where you apply for the acting permit they state the following…
Before starting the child actor application, make sure you have the required documents ready to apply for or renew a Child Performer Permit.
School Form ( LS 560launch ) required for child performers age 6 and up
Health Form ( LS 562launch ) required with every application
Trust Account Form ( LS 566launch ) required with the first application
Proof of Child Performer's age (Passport, etc.)
Parent/Guardian Identification (Passport, Driver's License, etc.)
Notarized statement of guardianship (Guardians Only)
Open a UTMA bank account.
